Wenham Connects: An Age and Dementia Friendly Needs Assessment - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Wenham Connects: An Age and Dementia Friendly Needs Assessment

Caitlin Coyle, PhD

Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging Gerontology Institute & Department John W. McCormack School of Policy & Global Studies University of Massachusetts Boston October 2018

Commissioned by the Town of Wenham Council on Aging

Acknowledgments

This project would not have been possible without the support from:

Jim Reynolds, Director, Wenham Council on Aging Peggy Cahill, Age-Friendly Consultant The Wenham Museum for their space All of the Wenham residents, organizations, and municipal departments for their valuable input

Outline of Today’s Presentation

 The Age and Dementia Friendly framework  Strategies used to hear from Wenham  Wenham Characteristics and Recommendations by Age-Friendly Domain  Discussion

Age-Friendly Framework

The Eight Domains of an Age-Friendly Community

• Enables people of all ages

to actively participate in community activities and treats everyone with respect, regardless of their age

• Makes it easy for older

people to stay connected to people who are important to them

• Helps people stay healthy

and provides support to those who can no longer live independently

Dementia Friendly Community

• Fostering meaningful

access to and engagement in community life for people living with dementia and their family and friend care partners.

• Each sector of

community works to create an informed, safe and respectful community.

• Prioritizing the

promotion of quality

• f life for those living

with dementia and their care partners.

Goals in Developing the Age and Dementia Friendly Wenham Report

• Develop an understanding of Wenham’s assets

and concerns of the community

• Provide preliminary ideas for ways in which

Wenham’s age and dementia friendly features may be improved

• Draw on resident and stakeholder input

Strategies for Learning about Wenham

• Review of Existing Data
• Five Key-Informant Interviews
• COA director
• Town Administrator
• Police Chief
• Fire Chief
• Permitting Coordinator & Special Projects Manager
• Four Focus Groups
• Town Office Representatives
• Representatives of nonprofits and other organizations serving

Wenham

• Wenham Residents (two Groups)

By 2030 Nearly 30% of Wenham Residents Will Be 60+

0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 MAPC SQ MAPC SR Donahue Alternative Donahue Vintage Sources: Population figures for 1990 through 2010 are from the U.S. Census. Projection figures are from the Donahue Institute and MAPC.

83% of Wenham Householders Age 60+ Own Their Home

88% 99% 83% All householders Householder age 45 to 59 Householders age 60+

Source: American Community Survey, 2012-2016, Tables B25007 and B25011 Numbers are calculated from 5-year survey estimates.

3 out of 10 Wenham Residents Age 65+ Live Alone

Lives with others, 69% Lives alone, 30% [CATEGORY NAME], 1%

Source: American Community Survey, 2012-2016, Table B09020. Numbers are calculated from 5-year survey estimates

Almost 3 in 10 Wenham Residents Age 65+ Report Having At Least 1 Disability

One disability, 16% Two or more disabilities, 13% [CATEGORY NAME], 71%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau; American Community Survey, 2012-2016, Table C18108

Cross-Cutting Theme: Affordability and Economic Security

Community Input:

• Participants perceive that there is a

segment of the senior resident population that “can’t afford to live here” and yet they remain living in a vulnerable economic state. It is an “invisible” need.

• Some participants observe a division

between high- and low-income residents.

• Because Wenham lacks a commercial

base, town finances rely on private homeowners. Suggestions from the Community:

• Improve communication

and publicity about the Senior Tax Work Off Program and the Senior Circuit Breaker Tax Credit.

• Consider creating part-time

flexible employment

• pportunities for seniors in

Wenham.

Housing

• Rural feel with access to urban areas
• Lack of housing options to age in community
• Prohibitive cost to live in Wenham, high property tax
• Need for access to trustworthy home maintenance information

Suggestions from the Community

• Develop co-housing models
• Create a mechanism for older residents to access trustworthy

resources

• Develop more affordable downsizing options, including closer to the

“center” of town

• Better educate the community on current zoning laws

Transportation

• COA Van and Public transportation to Boston are assets
• Limited local transportation options
• Lack of walkable options

Suggestions from the Community

• Recruit local residents to drive for Uber or Lyft
• Pilot-test use of the COA van for evening events or weekend

programming

• Learn more about how Hamilton’s medical transportation system
• perates
• Generate a more creative slogan or name for the side of the COA
• van. For example, “Take a ride. You have earned it!”

Outdoor Spaces & Buildings

• Beautiful trails and parks
• Most municipal buildings are ADA compliant
• Outdoor Spaces & Recreation plan includes several “age-friendly” action

Suggestions from the Community

• Ensure all parks and trails in Wenham are accessible, including

parking, benches and signage.

• Better promote the availability of local greenspace.
• Create increased “connectivity” in Wenham via sidewalks, paths or

bike routes.

• Develop more destinations to walk to.

Communication & Information

• The Wenhamite (COA); Hamilton-Wenham Chronicle; several social media

pages

Suggestions from the Community

• Make The Wenhamite available as an e-news listserve.
• Expand the content of The Wenhamite to include services and other

community resources.

• Create an online senior services directory.
• Use the Town Meeting Warrant Articles mailing to distribute

information about Wenham resources available.

• Create a “Welcome Packet”.
• Publicize a “senior information hotline” at the COA.
• Place suggestion boxes in high-traffic areas to gather programming

ideas for the COA.

Social Participation

• The Library, COA, Wenham Tea Room, and Wenham Museum
• Lack of intergenerational communal space

Suggestions from the Community

• Consider ways to expand the capacity of the COA, including

increased collaboration with the Hamilton COA.

• Engage Gordon College to partner on programs that will foster

intergenerational experiences.

• Expand the “Senior to Senior” day program and develop relationships

between various departments in Wenham.

• Develop a technology “help desk” at local schools.
• Start a breakfast club.
• Encourage neighborhood block parties or meetings.

Community Supports & Health Services

• Trend toward families being geographically dispersed leading to

“long-distance” caregiving

• Need for increased communication between residents, municipal

departments, and organizations

Suggestions from the Community

• Expand the social work capacity of the Town, COA.
• Explore opportunities to develop a “Village” program or “Neighbors

Brigade” program.

• Target outreach and resource development for local and distant

caregivers and include opportunities for respite.

• Continue to encourage residents to “check on their neighbors”

during storms or extreme temperatures.

Civic Engagement & Employment

• Wenham Citizen’s Leadership Academy
• Fully-subscribed Senior tax work-off program benefits both residents and

municipal departments

• Many older residents are well-educated and experienced

Suggestions from the Community

• Host the Citizen’s Leadership Academy during the day.
• Continue to ensure that older residents or a representative from

the COA are involved in community planning.

• Limit board and committee terms to ensure healthy turnover.
• Engage in a systematic review of boards, committees and

commissions to ensure mission statements are adhered to and that duplication or gaps in services are not occurring.

Respect & Social Inclusion

• Limited spaces for residents to gather.
• Divide between parents and older residents.
• Residents leave after children graduate from school system diminishing

a sense of community.

Suggestions from the Community

• Continue to develop mechanisms to outreach, education, and support to

families dealing with dementia.

• Consider re-messaging efforts at the COA to avoid inferences of ageism.
• Target engagement efforts at persons without children, including empty-

nesters and seniors. For example, send a birthday to residents when they turn 60.

Recommended Priority Areas

 Communication and Information  Housing Social Participation Community Supports & Health Services

Thank You!

Caitlin Coyle, PhD Research Fellow, Center for Social & Demographic Research on Aging Gerontology Institute, John W. McCormack Graduate School of Policy & Global Studies University of Massachusetts Boston Caitlin.Coyle@umb.edu voice: 617.287.7413